Amelia Taylor-Hochberg penned an essay on The humanity of the Chicago Architecture Biennial, wherein she argues "the Biennial is more about architects than it is about architecture." 

Meanwhile Julia Ingalls reviewed the book Conversations with Architects: In the Age of Celebrity, by former corporate interior designer turned international architectural curator Vladimir Belogolovsky. DTElmore was convinced "this article has helped me to see that now, more than ever, buildings and criticism of buildings are inextricably linked to the characters that design them, possibly to the detriment of architecture."

News

Moscow is on a roll, of post-industrial rehab; with Renzo Piano Building Workshop releasing a redesign - for turning a Moscow power station into an art site for the V-A-C Foundation and Neutelings Riedijk Architects proposing golden glass and steel towers for a defunct Moscow auto plant.

The SANAA designed arts and community center, the River, finally opened its doors to the public at Grace Farms in New Canaan, Connecticut. Responding to commentators and critics Will Galloway recommended an "article by Alexandra Lange in dezeen...if you really need a reason to dislike this beautiful project."

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported the September ABI score was 53.7, up from a mark of 49.1 in August. Although the multi-family residential sector continues its eighth-month weak streak, the majority of sectors of the Architecture Billings Index showed signs of growth after a backpedaling August.

Aeon featured the work/research of Colin Ellard an environmental psychologist and neuroscientist at the University of Waterloo, which applies the results of boredom research to urban psychology and the prudent design of city streets and buildings. anonitect quibbled "What the guy is saying isn't wrong.  It isn't new... the problem: His methodology is weak, and there's no need to frame the obvious as the result of a scientific process."
 

Firms/Work Updates

Jessica A.S. Letaw shared "a tiny peek"/ Photo Preview of the Chicago Architecture Biennial. She also promised "a series of critical articles starting 10/26 going over the concept and execution of this Biennial as well as some of the works shown inside it."

Architect Ilaria Mosso used HI-MACS® to design a sculptural staircase in the new headquarters for, Inox Fondi Srl of Villamarzana, Rovigo.

Play-Time shared pre/post images of a university building they built. Donna Sink thought it was interesting "that the transparency of the glass is greater in the reality than in the rendering. I'm really enjoying these extremely transparent glass products that are available these days. Changes Modernism quite a bit."
 

School/Blogs
Meredith Garda provided a recap of a lecture titled  'The Housing Vaccine: Why Stable Decent Affordable Homes Keep Communities Healthy', given 2 weeks ago at the Knowlton School by Megan Sandel, MD, MPH.

UWMilwaukee faculty Brian Johnsen and Sebastian Schmaling’s  have received a 2015 American Architecture Award, for Topo House.

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa is looking to hire two Tenure Track faculty; an Assistant/Associate Professor in Landscape Architecture (with a Urban Ecological Design Focus) and an Assistant/Associate Professor in Architectural History, Theory, and Criticism.

AnnetteGallaghe described how UMSoA students, led by visiting professor and Barcelona’s former chief architect Vicente Guallart and lecturer Li Yi, are using the Miami Design District as a prototype, to define how the cities of the future will work.

Specifically,

"The six topics being studied by the class are energy consumption via a heat map and proposing how to make all the energy needed in the district locally using renewable energies; urban agriculture with the proposal of roof top gardens and new buildings that produce food; urban re-industrialization by proposing digital fabrication factories that produce, recycle and sell things; social interaction using geotagged social media posts to determine where the greatest activity takes place; environment and shadow, using time lapses of the sun moving over the district; and mobility, which will consider everything from pedestrian traffic to bike lanes, car sharing service usage and general vehicle traffic."
 

Discussions/Threads
ALDAVIS requested assistance identifying contemporary insulation precedents. Later clarifying "Im not asking you guys to do my project...posted the question... in hopes of getting something to look at today at school instead of starting from zero." As a working architect Non Sequitur was thankful for the "comedic break. But to help your case, look at Kalwall systems". Carrera then pointed out "Channel Glass is R3, Kalwall can get you to R20, SIPS too and beyond and simple ICF’s are R23, but the payback for these things can be difficult to justify". Zaina  and Everyday Intern both like "glass insulation with aerogel".

A.I. had questions about the Extent of client input on Starchitect work. Olaf Design Ninja_ suggested reading Wired which "documents part of this process pretty well" as it relates to BIG’s design for WTC2. From where Bloopox has sat "anecdotally...the client's influence is more extensive on the starchitect's work than the everyday-client's influence is on the lower-budget projects at anonymi-tect firms".

Finally senjohnblutarsky asked "How much of a loss in pay would you take to work on better projects or a better employer?" JeromeS was quick to lay down the line "Not more than 10%...but everything is negotiable.  If you give up money- get something else". Given the current architecture hiring market Brandon Hubbard offered a third option "Move to great office with exciting projects and the same (or better) pay." rob_c summed up "You need to make money and take care of yourself. If the numbers don't work. Don't do it."